Odyssey From Africa 3b

Chapter 3 THE RIVER continued (b) Carefully they placed the children In the small canoe amidships; Pushing out into the current Han swam alongside to guide them Kwona, as she stood and waited On the shore now took the hatchet Cut the twin horns from the forehead Of the now dismembered carcass Thinking it a useful item. In the coracle the children Paddled hard to cross the river Han swam close to guide and help them Steadily they did make progress As the current swept them downstream Turning southward Kwona watched the Warriors' relentless onrush Finally Han and the children Made a landfall on the north shore Straight-way Han picked up the vessel Then ran swiftly heading upstream At that time of greatest danger Fighting fear with mental sharpness Every moment seeming endless Time itself moved in slow-motion Upstream of his waiting Kwona Han plunged back into the river Paddled powerfully and swiftly As he saw the four approaching Now a mere few hundred paces He could recognise their faces Only several days beforehand They were mending nets together Now with evil purpose striding Weaponed by their fear and hatred Could he reach his precious Kwona First, before they closed upon her? Suddenly a loud commotion Broke out in the nearby bushes High-pitched shrieking of a primate, Snarling of a feline hunter Clearing dust revealed the carnage Leopard has baboon for breakfast And the four approaching slayers Paused, exchanging nervous glances; Was this too some kind of magic? Creatures summoned to attack them? Superstitious hesitation Was to cost them vital seconds Kwona faced them, eyes of hellfire Baring in both hands a weapon All four warriors lunged forward At that moment Han made landfall Taking Kwona in his arms Han Dived into the boat beside her Then sat up and started paddling But the boat was shipping water Something grey and pink and fluffy Dashed out from the bush toward them A surviving baboon infant Orphaned by her mother's slaying Just in front of the pursuers Ran the tiny little monkey Leaping from the riverbank it Landed between Han and Kwona So the boat now held three riders Han rowed hard to gain more distance Kwona tried to fix the leaking While the small wet monkey shivered Thus the chasers missed their quarry One of them dived in the water Swimming to pursue the boaters Holding in his teeth a weapon